Convertible Stuffed Toy

ABSTRACT

A stuffed toy 11 convertible to another stuffed toy, or a cushion 13. The stuffed toy 11 has a first shape formed by a first shell 35 and a second shape formed by a second shell 41, the shells being joined by a zip fastener 47 to form a contiguous hollow structure when unzipped. The structure contains a flowable stuffing that may be manipulated between the first shell 35 and the second shell 41. The stuffing can be entirely contained with the second shell 41, within the first shell 35 and the zip fastener 47 is done up to form the stuffed toy 11. By undoing the zip fastener, the stuffing can be manipulated to be entirely contained within the second shell 41 with the first shell 35, within the second shell 41, and the zip fastener 47 done up to form the other stuffed toy or cushion 13.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a soft toy and in particular to a stuffed toyor plush toy.

BACKGROUND ART

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitatean understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciatedthat the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any ofthe material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as atthe priority date of the application.

Stuffed toys have been known since the late 1800's, manufactured fromfabric and stuffed with a filling in order to give the stuffed toy athree dimensional form. Earliest known stuffed toys were produced byMargarete Steiff GmbH of Germany, and included animal shapes including astuffed bear. A Morris Michtom is credited with contemporaneous creationof a stuffed toy in the shape of a bear which was referred to as a teddybear following publication of a political cartoon featuring Theodore“Teddy” Roosevelt.

Other stuffed toys followed shortly thereafter, include those of thecharacters from the Beatrix Potter books. Plush toys are those which areformed of an outer material having an appearance and feel thatapproximates animal fur. However, whether the outer material is plush orof knitted construction, these toys have long been a favouriteparticularly of young children and as a comforter for infants.

Generally, stuffed toys have not had much utility beyond what isdescribed above, although some attempts have been made to providearrangements having utility beyond a mere stuffed toy. One example is anarrangement described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,045, to Bowen, in which isdescribed a soft “sculpture” which in effect is a stuffed toy having apocket in which a blanket is stored, from which the blanket may beretrieved and used. The blanket may be separate from the stuffed toy orof unitary construction with the stuffed toy. In the arrangementdescribed in Bowen, the blanket provides the stuffing for the stuffedtoy.

Recently popular in the United States are Pillow Pets™ which are a brandof stuffed toys that convert from an animal shape to a pillow. This isaccomplished through folding the pillow and securing it in apredetermined configuration with straps having hook and loop fasteners(such as Velcro™), to form the animal shape. Tranformation to a pillowis accomplished by undoing the hook and loop fasteners and unfolding theanimal shape to regain the pillow shape.

Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, theword “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, willbe understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group ofintegers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group ofintegers.

Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, theword “include” or variations such as “includes” or “including”, will beunderstood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group ofintegers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group ofintegers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a stuffed toy having a particular shape orcaricature, that may be interconverted between another shape, caricatureor expression. The stuffed toy has a first shape formed by a first shelland the other shape caricature or expression is provided by a secondshape formed by a second shell. The first shell and the second shell arejoined by a double sided zip fastener either with a pull on each side ormore preferably a pull that can be located to the required side in use,prior to fastening the zip fastener. The first shell and the secondshell form a contiguous hollow structure when the zip fastener isundone, the structure containing a stuffing which is flowable, and maybe manually manipulated between the first shell and the second shell. Ina first configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely containedwithin the first shell and the second shell is also contained within thefirst shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from afirst side to contain the stuffing and second shell within the firstshell, forming the stuffed toy. In a second configuration the stuffingis substantially entirely contained within the second shell and thefirst shell is also contained within the second shell, in which positionthe zip fastener may be fastened from a second side to contain thestuffing and first shell within the second shell, forming the othershape caricature or expression. The zip fastener may be operated onlywhen the second shell is wholly contained within the first shell or thefirst shell is wholly contained within the second shell.

Preferably the stuffing comprises plastic beads such as polystyrenebeads. The plastic beads may be of a size down to half a millimetre, butthe size is limited to what may be safely contained within the sewnfirst and second shells. A larger size may be desirable to present lessof a choking hazard should the beads be accidentally liberated throughrupture of the fabric of the first and second shells. Since the stuffingnever comes into contact with the zip fastener teeth, any aperturespresented by the zip fastener teeth are not a consideration.

The stuffed toy of the first shape may be a caricature such as a teddybear or other stuffed toy or plush toy, and may be any animal shape orcharacter from a popular movie, television program or cartoon, as may befranchised by its owner. The other shape caricature or expression may bea pillow, a neck cushion, another caricature, or may be the samecaricature but with a different facial expression or gesturing in adifferent manner.

The volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that thesum of the volume of the first shell when filled or inflated less thevolume of the second shell when emptied or deflated is substantiallyequal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled orinflated less the volume of the first shell when emptied or deflated. Inthis manner the volume of stuffing required to inflate the first shellor the second shell is the same.

In an embodiment where the other shape is a pillow or a neck cushion,the volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that thesum of the volume of the first shell when filled or inflated less thevolume of the second shell when emptied or deflated is less than the sumof the volume of the second shell when filled or inflated less thevolume of the first shell when emptied or deflated. In this manner thefirst shell when filled or inflated and in the first configuration ofthe stuffed toy will be more taut, and in the second configuration thepillow or neck cushion so formed will have more give and will be moredeformable, to facilitate its use as a pillow or as a neck cushion, asthe case may be.

Also in accordance with the present invention there is provided acushion, that may be interconverted between said cushion and a stuffedtoy having a particular shape or caricature, said stuffed toy having afirst shape formed by a first shell and the cushion shape is provided bya second shape formed by a second shell, wherein the first shell and thesecond shell are joined by a double sided zip fastener either with apull on each side or more preferably a pull that can be located to therequired side in use, prior to fastening the zip fastener, wherein thefirst shell and the second shell form a contiguous hollow structure whenthe zip fastener is undone, the structure containing a stuffing which isflowable, and may be manually manipulated between the first shell andthe second shell, where in a first configuration the stuffing issubstantially entirely contained within the first shell and the secondshell is also contained within the first shell, in which position thezip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffingand second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and ina second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely containedwithin the second shell and the first shell is also contained within thesecond shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from asecond side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the secondshell, forming the cushion.

By way of explanation, the zip fastener may be operated only when thesecond shell is wholly contained within the first shell or the firstshell is wholly contained within the second shell.

Preferably the stuffing comprises plastic beads such as polystyrenebeads. The plastic beads may be of a size down to half a millimetre, butthe size is limited to what may be safely contained within the sewnfirst and second shells. A larger size may be desirable to present lessof a choking hazard should the beads be accidentally liberated throughrupture of the fabric of the first and second shells. Since the stuffingnever comes into contact with the zip fastener teeth, any aperturespresented by the zip fastener teeth are not a consideration.

The stuffed toy of the first shape may be a caricature such as a teddybear or other stuffed toy or plush toy, and may be any animal shape orcharacter from a popular movie, television program or cartoon, as may befranchised by its owner. The cushion may be a pillow or a neck cushion.

The volume of the first and second shells is preferably such that thesum of the volume of the first shell when filled or inflated less thevolume of the second shell when emptied or deflated is less than orequal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filled orinflated less the volume of the first shell when emptied or deflated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Three preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described inthe following description of a stuffed toy, convertible to form acushion, made with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of parts laid flat to assemble a stuffed toy inthe form of a kangaroo, convertible to form a neck cushion, according toa first embodiment;

FIGS. 2 to 4 show steps in the manufacture of the stuffed toy and neckcushion of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show steps in arranging the stuffed toy and neck cushionof the first embodiment into the configuration of a kangaroo;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from above of the kangaroo stuffed toy ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view from below of the kangaroo stuffed toy ofthe first embodiment;

FIG. 9 shows steps in arranging the kangaroo stuffed toy and neckcushion of the first embodiment into the configuration of a neckcushion;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above of the kangaroo stuffed toy ofthe first embodiment, in the neck cushion configuration;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a stuffed toy in the form of a kangaroostuffed toy convertible to a pillow according to a second embodiment,showing the intermediate conversion between the two forms;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view from above of the kangaroo stuffed toy ofthe second embodiment, in the pillow configuration;.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view from above of a stuffed toy in the form ofa bear which is convertible to a neck cushion, according to a thirdembodiment;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view from below of the bear stuffed toy of thethird embodiment;

FIG. 15 shows steps in arranging the bear stuffed toy and neck cushionof the third embodiment into the configuration of a neck cushion;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view from above of the bear stuffed toy of thethird embodiment, in the neck cushion configuration;

BEST MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 10 is a stuffed toyhaving the shape of a kangaroo as indicated generally as 11 in FIGS. 7and 8, that may be interconverted between another shape, particularlyinto the shape of a neck cushion 13, shown in FIG. 10. In FIGS. 7 and 8,the kangaroo 11 has a head 15 with rear facing protuberance 17 whichrepresents ears, a body 19, having a tail 21, rear legs 23, and torsoand neck 25 with forelegs 27. In FIG. 10, the neck cushion 13 has twoarms 29 and a rear neck rest 31. A tag 33 is sewn in, to allow the neckcushion to be hung on a display peg in a retail store situation, readyfor sale.

Referring to FIG. 1, The stuffed toy with the first shape of thekangaroo 11 is formed by a first shell 35 comprising two fabric halves37 and 39, which to form the kangaroo shape in the completed stuffedtoy. These two fabric halves 37 and 39 clearly also have a kangarooshape. The other shape forming the neck cushion 13 is provided by asecond shell 41 formed by two fabric halves 43 and 45. A double sidedzip fastener 47, also commonly known as a reversible zip fastener,completes the construction. The zip fastener 47 is double sided orreversible in the sense that it can be “zipped up” or unzipped fromeither side, since the pull 49 may be located to the side from which itis accessible.

Assembly of the parts shown in FIG. 1 proceeds as follows. The twofabric halves 37 and 39, which to form the kangaroo shape in thecompleted stuffed toy are overlaid with plush sides (if using plushfabric) in contact and stitched together, except for the straightextents 51 and 53 which are left unstitched. The two fabric halves 43and 45 forming the second shell 41 are also overlaid with plush sides(if using plush fabric) in contact and stitched together, except for thestraight extents 55 and 57 and except for a portion 59 about 2 to 4 cmlong on the extremity on the end of one of the arms 29, which are leftunstitched. To give an idea of perspective, the straight extents and zipfastener 47 are about 28 cm (˜11 inches) long.

With zip fastener 47 undone and the zipper teeth thereof located inwardtowards the inside of the fabric halves, one side of the zip fastener 47is sewn to fabric halves 37 and 43, and the other side of zip fastener47 is sewn to fabric halves 39 and 45. After this the whole sewnassembly is pulled through an aperture 61 formed by the unsewn portion59, turning inside out in the process, to present the plush surfaces onthe outside, as shown in FIG. 2. It will be understood that throughoutthis process from sewing of the zip fastener 47 and fabric halves 39 and45, the zip fastener 47 remains unzipped.

The first shell 35 and the second shell 41 form a contiguous hollowstructure 60. Referring to FIG. 3, a flowable stuffing in the form of 1mm polystyrene foam balls 63 is introduced into the hollow structure 60through the aperture 61, guided by a funnel 65, although in massproduction a skilled addressee will understand that more suitable meansfor this may be effectively employed. The aperture 61 is then sewnclosed with stitching 67 as shown in FIG. 4. The teeth 69 of the zipfastener 47 present on the outside of the hollow structure 60, at theboundary between the first shell 35 and the second shell 41.

When filled with flowable polystyrene foam balls 63, the flowablepolystyrene foam balls 63 will distribute throughout the hollowstructure 60 formed by the first shell 35 and the second shell 41. Thehollow structure 60 formed by the first shell 35 and the second shell 41may be manually manipulated to shift the flowable polystyrene foam balls63 between the first shell 35 and the second shell 41. Referring to FIG.5, the second shell 41 is shown being manipulated to shift the flowablepolystyrene foam balls 63 to the first shell 35 in order to reach afirst configuration forming a kangaroo. Referring to FIG. 6, once all ofthe flowable polystyrene foam balls 63 have been forced into the firstshell 35 and manipulated into the extremities of the kangaroo shape(namely into the head 15 ears 17 tail 21, rear legs 23, torso and neck25 and forelegs 27) the fabric of the second shell 41 may also be pushedinto the body 19 of the kangaroo 11, and then the zip fastener 47 may bezipped up to complete the kangaroo 11 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Conversion to the neck cushion 13 is accomplished by unzipping the zipfastener 47, pulling out the second shell 41, then manually manipulatingthe kangaroo 11 to shift most of the flowable polystyrene foam balls 63from the first shell 35 to the second shell 41, as is shown partiallycompleted in FIG. 9. When the flowable polystyrene foam balls 63 aremostly in the second shell 41, the first shell 35 may be folded andpushed through the zip fastener 47 inside the second shell 41, and thezip fastener 47 zipped up to complete the neck cushion 13.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the second embodiment is shown. The secondembodiment is similar in all respects to the first embodiment, exceptthat instead of a neck cushion the second shell 41 a forms a pillow 71,having a second shell 73 comprising rectangular shaped fabric halves 75and 77.

It will be understood that while both kangaroos described in the firstand second embodiments utilise flowable polystyrene foam balls 63 tofill all extremities of the first shell 35, the finer extremities may befilled with a resilient compressible filling which is not motile andremains in the extremities, being compressed as the extremities of thefirst shell 35 are pushed into the second shell 41, as the kangaroo istransformed into the pillow or cushion, as the case may be. Theremainder of the filling may comprise the flowable polystyrene foamballs 63, as described.

In FIGS. 13 to 16, a third embodiment is shown, being a bear 79 thatconverts to a neck cushion 13. The bear is formed of a hollow fabricshell to form a first shell 35 and has a head 15, body 19, legs 23 andarms 81. Features such as ears 83 may be of hollow fabric forming partof the first shell 35 or separate shells filled with a stuffing and sewnin place on the head 15. Features such as mouth 85, nose 87 and eyes 89are provided in any suitable form.

An opening bounded by straight extents 51 and 53 is provided in the backof the first shell 35 into which a double sided zip fastener 47 is sewn,in co-operation with the second shell 41. The first shell forming thebear is connected to a second shell 41 forming a neck cushion 13, in thesame manner as the first shell forming the kangaroo 11 is connected tothe second shell 41 in the first embodiment. Due to the relativelycomplex shape of the bear, it may be necessary to push the second shell41 inside out into the first shell with the straight extents 51 and 53aligned with the straight extents 55 and 57 respectively, before the zipfastener 47 in the open condition (for access) is sewn in place, oneside of the zip fastener 47 being sewn to edges 51 and 55 and the otherside of the zip fastener 47 being sewn to edges 53 and 57. Once sewn inplace the second shell 41 may be drawn out of the first shell, in whichposition the outer surfaces of both shells 35 and 41 will present. Thetwo shells may be filled with the required amount of flowablepolystyrene foam balls 63 through the aperture 61 in an arm 29 of theneck cushion, before the aperture 61 is sewn closed with stitching.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limitedto the particular embodiment described herein, and that changes may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thecharacter shapes may be varied to create other toys for children andpromotional items. In an alternative embodiment instead of a cushion thesecond shell could be another character shape, or the same charactershape but striking a different pose.

1. A stuffed toy having a particular shape or caricature, that may beinterconverted between another shape, caricature or expression, thestuffed toy having a first shape formed from a first shell and the othershape caricature or expression is provided by a second shape formed froma second shell, wherein the first shell and the second shell are joinedby a zip fastener, the first shell and the second shell forming acontiguous hollow structure when the zip fastener is undone, thestructure containing a stuffing which is flowable, and may be manuallymanipulated between the first shell and the second shell while the zipfastener is undone; wherein, in a first configuration the stuffing issubstantially entirely contained within the first shell and the secondshell is also contained within the first shell, in which position thezip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffingand second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and ina second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely containedwithin the second shell and the first shell is also contained within thesecond shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from asecond side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the secondshell, forming the other shape caricature or expression.
 2. A stuffedtoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stuffing is selected from plasticbeads or polystyrene foam beads or a combination thereof.
 3. A stuffedtoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stuffed toy of the first shape maybe a caricature and the other shape caricature or expression may be apillow or a neck cushion.
 4. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 1 whereinthe volume of the first and second shells is such that the sum of thevolume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the secondshell when emptied is substantially equal to the sum of the volume ofthe second shell when filled less the volume of the first shell whenemptied
 5. A stuffed toy as claimed in claim 3 wherein the volume of thefirst and second shells is preferably such that the sum of the volume ofthe first shell when filled less the volume of the second shell whenemptied is less than the sum of the volume of the second shell whenfilled less the volume of the first shell when emptied.
 6. A cushion,that may be interconverted between said cushion and a stuffed toy havinga particular shape or caricature, said stuffed toy having a first shapeformed by a first shell and the cushion shape is provided by a secondshape formed by a second shell, wherein the first shell and the secondshell are joined by a double sided zip fastener either with a pull oneach side or more preferably a pull that can be located to the requiredside in use, prior to fastening the zip fastener, wherein the firstshell and the second shell form a contiguous hollow structure when thezip fastener is undone, the structure containing a stuffing which isflowable, and may be manually manipulated between the first shell andthe second shell, where in a first configuration the stuffing issubstantially entirely contained within the first shell and the secondshell is also contained within the first shell, in which position thezip fastener may be fastened from a first side to contain the stuffingand second shell within the first shell, forming the stuffed toy, and ina second configuration the stuffing is substantially entirely containedwithin the second shell and the first shell is also contained within thesecond shell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from asecond side to contain the stuffing and first shell within the secondshell, forming the cushion.
 7. A cushion as claimed in claim 6 whereinthe stuffing is selected from plastic beads or polystyrene foam beads ora combination thereof.
 8. A cushion as claimed in claim 6 wherein thevolume of the first and second shells is preferably such that the sum ofthe volume of the first shell when filled less the volume of the secondshell when emptied is less than or equal to the sum of the volume of thesecond shell when filled less the volume of the first shell whenemptied.
 9. A stuffed toy having a particular shape or caricature, thatmay be interconverted between said stuffed toy and a cushion, saidstuffed toy having a first shape formed by a first shell and the cushionshape is provided by a second shape formed by a second shell, whereinthe first shell and the second shell are joined by a double sided zipfastener either with a pull on each side or more preferably a pull thatcan be located to the required side in use, prior to fastening the zipfastener, wherein the first shell and the second shell form a contiguoushollow structure when the zip fastener is undone, the structurecontaining a stuffing which is flowable, and may be manually manipulatedbetween the first shell and the second shell, where in a firstconfiguration the stuffing is substantially entirely contained withinthe first shell and the second shell is also contained within the firstshell, in which position the zip fastener may be fastened from a firstside to contain the stuffing and second shell within the first shell,forming the stuffed toy, and in a second configuration the stuffing issubstantially entirely contained within the second shell and the firstshell is also contained within the second shell, in which position thezip fastener may be fastened from a second side to contain the stuffingand first shell within the second shell, forming the cushion.
 10. Astuffed toy as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stuffing is selected fromplastic beads or polystyrene foam beads or a combination thereof.
 11. Acushion as claimed in claim 9 wherein the volume of the first and secondshells is preferably such that the sum of the volume of the first shellwhen filled less the volume of the second shell when emptied is lessthan or equal to the sum of the volume of the second shell when filledless the volume of the first shell when emptied.